News

Hold onto that Holdiay Feeling

Coaching in the News

NEW research by Tourism NT, shows that within one week of returning home a staggering 80 per cent of Australians feel like they have never had a holiday.

The results show that the vast majority of Aussie travellers want a holiday to get away from it all and more than four in five are seeking a holiday destination that allows them to switch off and feel reconnected.

The Newspoll survey was commissioned by Tourism NT to further understand what Aussies want from their holidays and whether they keep their holiday mojo once they return to the real world.

Kate James, life coach and Director of Total Balance Group, describes holiday mojo as the feeling of inner calm and vitality you experience when you return from a rewarding holiday.

What's interesting about the research is that most Australians don't have a problem with forgetting the daily grind as soon as they head off on their holiday, but as soon as they walk through the door, or go back to work, almost half feel like they have never left and their holiday mojo is gone, says Kate.

One reason for people losing their holiday mojo so quickly is because they undertake a holiday which doesn't fulfil them personally. People should consider destinations that offer interactive holiday experiences such as, being outdoors and in wide open spaces. This can assist in helping people feel revitalised and reconnected on return.

Australians are on the right track to enjoying a lasting holiday mojo if during their holiday they take some time for personal reflection, try to do something different from their day to day lives and don't try to cram too much in.

The Newspoll research also looked at what helped Australians feel reconnected while they were on holidays.

Three quarters said that being outdoors helped them to switch off and relax, while 70 per cent enjoyed the benefits of wide open spaces or a location where there were few people.

The research reveals 75 per cent of Aussie travellers are seeking an experience that stimulates their mind, body and spirit.

But rather than fulfilling this need, more than one in four Australians admit they cram too much into their holidays.

This trend is particularly prevalent amongst 18-34 year olds, or Gen X and Y, with almost a third admitting they deliberately cut out time to relax, preferring to cram activities and stop-overs into their break just to say they have been there, done that.

Other research findings include:

WHEN asked why they go on holidays more than half of Australians said it was to spend time with their partner or families and 17 per cent said it was to explore a new destination. For 14 per cent, relaxation was the main purpose of their last holiday.
GEN X and Y are twice as likely as grey nomads to say their last holiday was built up as something special but felt let down by what they actually experienced.
QUEENSLANDERS are more likely than Australians living in other states to be disappointed with their last holiday.
GREY nomads are more likely to be looking for new experiences on their holidays than Gen X and Y. And 25 per cent of 50-64 year olds said they were holidaying to explore new destinations compared to just 14 per cent of 18-34 years olds.

Top Tips for Keeping Your Holiday Mojo Alive

This article appeared in The Advertiser. To view it in its original format click here.